The BBC is hitting back at claims that Strictly Come Dancing bosses are already considering refreshing the show’s presenting line-up.
Following the departures of long-standing Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the end of last year, this year’s season introduced a new trio of presenters in Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
While it can’t be denied that the trio weren’t met with the warmest of receptions for their first few episodes (in particular, Emma’s two male co-hosts were met with criticism), it should also be noted that Strictly viewers definitely seem to have thawed as the weeks have gone on.
However, on Saturday night, the Daily Mail published a piece alleging that producers were already weighing up what to do with the presenting team next year, claiming their places “could be in doubt”.
A spokesperson has rubbished this outright, insisting that the article is “pure and utter speculation”.
Emma, Josh and Johannes’ work has been defended by several members of the Strictly team.
BBC/Ray Burmiston/BBC Creative
Craig Revel Horwood – the only member of Strictly’s on-air team to have been in his position since the show launched – recently told The Sun: “As a new team, as we’re all aware, it’s like having a new family member. You know… you’re just meeting, and the first Christmas together with the daughter’s new husband could be awkward.”
He also insisted that the trio are doing “a really, really good job”, claiming that “from this level they’ll just fly”.
Motsi Mabuse, meanwhile, responded to the backlash surrounding her new co-stars early on in the series in a social media post.
“While people type away, tearing apart real human beings on television [with] real emotions […] AI is getting better at replacing them,” she told her Threads followers.
“One day we might not even know the difference. And maybe then we’ll miss the days when television was still beautifully, imperfectly human.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday night at 6.30pm on BBC One for its annual Halloween special.
